During the peak summer months, outdoor work presents challenges such as heat stress and dehydration, especially for those who work tirelessly outdoors to keep our campus beautiful and functional. The Waste Management and Gardening teams are among the most exposed to outdoor conditions.   

To ensure the safety of our outdoor working staff during the hottest months, Campus and Community (C&C) has implemented the following measures: 

• Outdoor Working Hours: In compliance with Saudi Labor Law, outdoor work is prohibited from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. from June 15 to September 15 to protect workers from extreme heat. 

• Altered Working Schedule: Work schedules have been adjusted to take advantage of the cooler morning hours, minimizing exposure to extreme heat during the day.  

• Awareness and Training: Regular educational sessions are conducted to educate staff about the risks of heat stress, dehydration, and other outdoor work-related health issues, emphasizing preventive measures for overall well-being. 

• Heat Index Monitoring: The heat index, which considers temperature, humidity, and other factors to assess how hot it feels, is monitored hourly. Supervisors and team leaders are promptly informed of this information. 

• Protective Measures: We ensure that our outdoor staff have access to plenty of water, suitable protective clothing, and frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.  

C&C's priority is the health and safety of our staff as we strive to maintain service quality without compromise. We greatly value and thank them for their commitment, resilience, unwavering dedication and hard work in delivering high-quality services despite challenging weather conditions.   

We also thank the entire KAUST community for understanding and supporting our outdoor working staff. 

For any concerns or questions, please email us at getengaged@kaust.edu.sa. 

CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY